Defence Spending

23rd October 2017

Norfolk has a rich and cherished military history. Having served as part of the Parliamentary Armed Forces Scheme, I have seen first-hand the amazing work our military do, and consistently argued that we must go on investing in, and supporting, our armed forces so they continue being the best in the world.

That’s why I welcome the fact that the Government has taken the difficult decisions over the last few years and repaired our public finances so that we can now invest again in our national security. We must never forget: back in 2010, the previous Labour Government left behind a £38 billion black hole in the defence budget – a figure bigger than the entire defence budget for that year.

Getting our defence budget back on track hasn’t been easy, but we are already starting to see the results. Since 2014, five offshore patrol vessels have entered production, as well as the first of a new class of ballistic missile submarine and a type 26 anti-submarine warfare frigate, with over £178 billion pledged by this Government to improve the equipment available to our Army, Royal Navy and RAF between 2016 and 2026.

Equally, in July 2015, I was delighted to support the Government’s announcement that the MOD budget would be increased by half a per cent every year – the first real terms increase in six years. The Government also agreed to meet the NATO target of spending two per cent of the national budget on defence. These commitments were then reaffirmed in the Conservative Party’s manifesto earlier this year, and will ensure that our defence budget increases from £36 billion in 2017/18 to just under £40 billion by 2020/21.

The first duty of any government is to keep the nation safe. Rest assured, I will go on championing the role of our military and ensuring they always have the support and investment they need to continue leading the world.